Leaf-spring lubricating means



May 25, 19 6; 1,585,881

H. K. S EUNG LEAF SPRING LUBRICATING MEANS Original Filed Sept. 26. 19215 INVENTOR.

Hon KSeun BY Q M TTORNEY Patented May 25, 192%.

uuirsn eras-"Es rarest: caries.

KONG KIM SEUNG, OF $TOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

LEAF-SPRING LUBRICATING MEANS.

Application filed September 2'6, 1923, Serial No. 664,821. Renewed October 28, 1325.

'l. his invention relates to improvements in vehicle springs of the multiple leaf type, and which are designed as half and full elliptic,cantilever, and like types.

The principal object of my invention is to so form the leaves that a chamber for the reception of oil or grease is had between the upper and lowermost leaves on each side of the longitudinal center or fulcrum point of the spring, so that the contacting surfaces of each pair of leaves will be lubricated continuously and withoutat-tent-ion on the part of the operator other thanan occasional replenishing of the lubricant.

This construction, as will be evident, is an effective preventative of spring squeaks, a common source of annoyance due to the rubbing together of the dry surfaces of the leaves when the spring is subjected to the numerous shocks incident to road travel.

I have also provided a spring structure in which the lubricant-carrying chambers may be easily formed during the manufacture of the individual leaves without increasing the cost of the spring to any appreciable de gree.

A further object of the invent-ion is to produce a simple and IHGXPGHSIVQ device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of refercnce indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a semielliptic leaf spring, showing the lubricant chamber formed therein.

Fi 2 is a plan view of an intermediate spring leaf.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section on the line 3-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. i is an enlarged sectional view of a liibricant-inserting nipple and valve.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes the upper leaf, 2 the lower leaf, and 3 the intermediate leaves, of a leaf-spring of ordinary type, the leaves being formed, as is customary, of gradually decreasing lengths from the top leaf down.

Out in each intermediate leaf and extend ing lengthwise thereof is a slot it, the slots in all said leaves being proportionate to the are subject to rust and hence apt to length of their-respective leaves and being arranged so that the end of any slot is overlapped by the solid end ofthe leaf below. The result is therefore that when the leaves are assembled in their proper superimposed oruer an enclosed chamber 5 is formed between the top and bottom leaves.

Grease or similar lubricant is prefe'ably forced under pressure into the said chamber, and to enable this to be easily accomplished, I provide a nipple or pipe connection 6 mounted on the upper solid leaf 1 and cornniui'iicating with the chamber 5. At the outer end of this nipple is a spring-seated check valve '2" preferably of the ball type, which closes away from the chamber and opens theretoward.

Enclosing the valve and extending outwardly thereof is a tubular extension 8, mounted on the outer end of the nipple ti, said extension being tapped its outer end to receive a plug 5), or the nozzle or tube of a grease gun.

v e :e um \vardly through the slots of the chanib r 5, closely fitting the side walls of said sr which are of course in vertical alineinent, and terminating adjacent the under face of the upper leaf. These stems, as will be evident, prevent lateral displacen'ient of tlic leaves far better than the more or less lOUfc clips usually used. This is because il' stems can be made to have a tighter lit ll" grooves "than the clips could have a the outer faces of the leaves, without interfering with the longitudina spring move ment between the leaves,sinee while the clips EDT/l6 against the leaves if too tightly eng-L-iging the spring, my interior stems are constantly kept Well lubricated. Apart from this, the spring of course presents a neater appea ance.

To enable the lubricant to pass by the stems, as is necessary to fill the portions of ice preferint o ordinary drilled holes in said leaf. The

diameter of the round portion of the stems is not greater than the transverse width thereof, so that the,overhang oi the main stem portion above the roundportion in a plane l'onpgitudinall} of the leaves, forms shoulders to abut against the leaf 2, as shoivn in Fig. 1.

The usual center or king bolt 13 passing through all the leaves is also drilled or slotted as at l4 to enable the lubricant to pass thereby.

The member 9 may function other than as a more plug. since I have in mind to provide grease cartridges to insert into the member 8, said cartridge being then forced past the check valve by screwing the plug 9 into said member 8, so that the plug 'tl'i'u's becomes a jack screw.

Also, if 'sufiiciently wide, as in heavy springs, orifices may be placed through the pins 11 instead of the grooves shown.

'From the foregoing description it will be readily seenthat I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention "as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in ders tail the present and preferred construction or the device, still in practice such deviatious hem such detail may be resorted to as do not form a de Jarture from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what 1 claim as new and useful and desire to cure by Letters Patent is;

1. A. leaf-spring comprising a J of superimposed leaves, a chamber for L reception oi? a lubricant formed betvvc the uppe" and lowermost leaves, and H102} enclosed in said chamber -for preventing l eral' displacement o1 the leaves relative to each other While allowing longitud' l spr ng movement tllGlObOtWCOl] being had.

BY A leaf-spring comprising a plurality of superimposed leaves, a chamber for the r .cepti'on or a lubricant formed between the upper and lowermost leaves, vertical ste P the solid leaves and eat aired in one of on through the chamber to the other solidesr', the stems having close'contact with the side Walls of the chamber. 7 3 A leaf-spring comprising a plurz'iiii ol' superimposed leaves, a chamb r to ception of a lubricant formed between the upper and lowermost leaves, vertical stems fixed in one of the solid leaves and extending through the chamber to the other solid leaf, the stems having close contact with the side Walls of the chamber, the stems having: horizontal passages to allow passage of the lubricant therepast.

In testimony whereof I all): my signature.

HONG KIM 

